Automated collection of information

Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided for collecting information gathered by an instrumentation mechanism for transport to an information collection facility. In one embodiment, the information that is collected is defined by a configuration file. An application may examine the configuration file, execute one or more queries specified by the configuration file, and write the data which is collected to one or more data structures employed by a transport mechanism in transferring information to the information collection facility. The process of collecting the information may occur periodically, such as nightly. The configuration file may be periodically updated to reflect new information that is to be collected.